Russia wants to 'normalise relations' with UK

By Adrian Blomfield

12:01AM BST 21 Jul 2007

Casting itself as the voice of reason in the row over Alexander Litvinenko's murder, Moscow signalled its desire to normalise relations with London yesterday and called on Britain to adopt a position of "common sense."

Echoing President Vladimir Putin, the Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov sought to downplay the differences between the two countries.

"Russia is interested in normalising relations with Britain," Mr Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. "We proceed from the fact that they should be based on respect for each other's interests and common sense. We are ready for that."

After months of antagonism towards the West, Russia abruptly adopted a softer stance this week following Britain's expulsion of four Russian diplomats as punishment for Moscow's refusal to hand over Andrei Lugovoi, the main suspect for Mr Litvinenko's murder.

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But Mr Lavrov said during a visit to Berlin: "What we did yesterday only follows the situation created by our British colleagues."

Britain is Russia's largest foreign investor and both countries have said they wanted to maintain a healthy business relationship.

But Russia's scathing attacks on Britain and other Western countries in the recent past have prompted suspicion over the Kremlin's apparent attempts at reconciliation.

Despite Russia's insistence that it is only abiding by its own constitution, which forbids the extradition of its citizens, the Kremlin is looking increasingly isolated. Both the US and EU have backed Britain in the row.